This Week

Economy citedEastwood board pulls levy from May ballot

Citing poor economic conditions, the Eastwood school board has decided to remove a 3.2-mill bond issue from the May ballot.

Superintendent Brent Welker said the board held a special meeting Tuesday morning and agreed to not pursue passage of the bond, which would have funded the local share of construction costs for a new school building that would have housed kindergarten through the fifth grades.

Had voters approved the bond issue, the school would have been constructed at the central campus.

Voters rejected a 5.8-mill bond issue in November that would have funded the local share of a K-8 elementary building.

“After surveying the community in December and rearranging the size of the bond issue, we believed that a smaller project had a chance of success in May,” a prepared statement by Mr. Welker said. “The board of education now feels that the accelerating economic decline in Northwest Ohio, and our nation, will diminish the opportunity to pass any new money until things begin to rebound. Therefore, it is with regret that the board will remove this bond issue from the May ballot.”

He said the board and administration remain convinced that centralizing operations will provide a “higher quality” education for Eastwood students and reduce operating costs.

“Continuing to operate three Depression era elementary buildings will require higher maintenance and transportation costs in both the short and long terms,” his statement said. “This project, however, will have to wait on better economic times. Our efforts now must focus on renewing a permanent improvement levy this year and critical operating levies in 2010 and 2011.

“This board of education has prided itself on not only working to enhance the curricular opportunities for our current generation of students, but in also taking a long view of what will work best for future generations. However, with so many people hurting in this current financial crisis, the short term needs of our community members must take precedence.”

The 28-year bond issue on the November ballot would have generated about $18.3 million in local revenues and leveraged another $13.5 million from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

The lower millage of the proposed May bond issue would have swayed about 15 percent of residents to support it, according to the survey the administration conducted. But larger percentages responded they would not support a bond issue regardless of the millage amount or would vote yes if the economy improved.

Interim treasurer hiredThe Woodmore school board has hired Pamela Barber on an as-needed basis for the treasurer’s post.

Anne Arnold, the former treasurer, has been hired as treasurer of the Benton-Carroll-Salem School District.

The Woodmore board will next meet March 23. An executive session will start at 6 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m.

State of countyThe Wood County Commissioners will present their annual State of the County Address March 17 at the Wood County District Public Library in Bowling Green. The event is sponsored by the Business Council of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce and the Wood County Economic Development Commission. The address provides an opportunity for the public to hear the commissioners’ perspectives on the important events that occurred in the county during 2008 and the goals for 2009.

Coffee and light refreshments will be served at 7:30 a.m. and the State of the County Program will begin at 8 a.m. The public is invited to attend. Chamber members are admitted for free. There is a charge of $5 for non-members.

Reservations are being accepted by contacting the chamber office at 419-353-7945, or email sharonferdig@bgchamber.net. The registration deadline is March 16.

New phone numberEffective July 6, the lines that provide toll-free telephone service to the Wood County offices will be disconnected. As a replacement, the county implemented a standard toll-free number: 1-866-860-4140. This toll-free number is already in place and working.

Road closed during the dayThe Ohio Department of Transportation District Two has announced that from March 12 through July 31 motorists should expect daytime closures of State Route 300 at Meadow Lane in the Village of Gibsonburg for waterline installation. The detour route is State Route 600; US 23; US 6. All work is weather permitting.

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